[plum]

my 8 month old dd has been prescribed zyrtec as she has a rash all over her tummy and legs. the dr says it's probably 'environmental' and allergy-related.

the bottle just says take once a day. it also says it can make her drowsy. so when is a good time to give it to her? at night?

what have been your experiences with zyrtec and little ones?

 

[Lucky Charm]

Hi Plum,
I have been giving Zyrtec to my youngest, on and off, for a few years. This has been a godsend for him. He looks and feels so much better. I always give it at bedtime, because of the drowsy factor, and thats what my Ped recommended.

I'm not sure whats up with your babe's rash. Try using a vaporizer at night also. the combo seems to help tremendously.

many times, when my little one would have allergy flareups, i would give the zyrtec every night for 3-5 nights, then back off and give it every other day, then every two, and so on, to "break the cycle" of his congestion. so i never really gave it for more than two-three weeks at a time. Am i making any sense???

:

Lisa

 

[plum]

hey, maybe you can help me with this question: the bottle says '2.5 ccs' but the little plastic squirter thing (syringe) has mLs listed (and i think teaspoons). how do you convert it?

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I'm pretty sure mls and ccs are the same. 1 teaspoon = 5ml/cc so 2.5 ml equals 1/2 teaspoon

. Some conversions are on this site (mostly about mixing eos and herbs but liquid conversion is the same anytime)
http://www.thegingertree.com/charts.html

ETA: I was just put on zyrtec and yes it does make you drowsy so bedtime is probably best. It also made it hard for me to breath but I'm allergic to other antihistamines so that is probably an allergic reaction in me not something that will happen to her plum. As soon as I stopped taking it I felt better. I hope it helps her rash! Did you just introduce a new food? That can cause a rash if there is an allergy.

 

[Gitti]

The question is why does an 8 months old come down with a 'rash' all over her tummy and legs?

You are treating the symptoms and not looking at what her body is telling you.

She is reacting to something - trying to get out of her system whatever is bothering her and the medicine will only suppress that natural activity.

It could be measles or some other virus. If it is measles and they don't run their course they can congregate in the gut and cause severes problems.

I would let the body take care of it. Is she itching? hurting? oozing? If not, why not let the body do what it needs to do. Give her a chance.

 

[plum]

she is only now trying solids (like two days ago) so it's not a food allergy. i've been taking her out in the yard the past month or so. it's kind of a dry patchy rash. it looks itchy to me but i don't know if it is or not.

it's been going on for awhile, but the last two weeks it got worse. this is why i took her in.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Ahh sounds like grass allergy

. The patchy, bumpy thing is what made me think that. My toddler used to get this way and it started around 6 months or so, right when I started taking her in the grass. She had eczema to begin with and then the grass flared it up to be red and patchy like that. My dd did try and scratch at it a bit but it didn't seem to bother her as much as when she had other eczema flare ups.

The docs remedy for us was make sure she has pants on if she is in the grass, well when you live in the south in the summer that isn't always an option! What I did was limit her time in the grass, I would put down a blanket so she could still explore outside but she wasn't in constant contact with the grass, if she did touch it I kept it to under 30 minutes and as soon as we went inside I would wipe her legs and hands down with a bit of mild soap and water. That really reduced the chance of her reacting to it.

The zyrtec will help with the rash but if you want to avoid meds let it clear up a bit and then try weaning her off it a bit and then just avoid the grass or at least wash her down good after wards. Not a full bath all the time just a warm washcloth with a drop of soap is fine

.

Now at the beginning of spring when the grass if pollenating my 2 year old still reacts a bit to it but after March-april when it's the worst she can handle playing outside in the grass fine. I just have her keep shoes on and still limit her time in the grass to one hour at a time. Cortaid helps with the rash also.

 

[Lucky Charm]

Plum, just checking to see how your child is doing. Hope all is well!

 

[plum]

i can't really tell. i've given it to her twice now and each time, she's managed to spit most of it out. is there a better way to give it to her? i'm not sure where i should place the syringe in her mouth as a better way of getting her to take more of it.

 

[grahamsmom98]

I wouldn't give Zyrtec to a child that young!! Ask your doctor his/her rationale for prescribing it.

According to the manufacturer, the safety and effectiveness of Zyrtec has NOT been checked on children under the age of 2 YEARS. Yet, your doc wants to give it to an 8 month old child???

I'd try using some Aveeno cream on her rash and see if that helps before medictaing her. Also, Aveeno makes a bath product that is good, too. Old-fashioned oatmeal baths are hard to beat, and they won't aggravate the skin.

Years ago, I had a rash on my legs they couldn't diagnose. The dermatologist I saw prescribed a compound made of Moisturel lotion and menthol. The pharmacist made it up, and it helped clear it up almost overnight. Simple, cheap and no side-effects to the body. What could be better? ((I always liked that this mainstream dermatologist believed in old-fashioned remedies!!))

Zyrtec is good, but it IS a powerful medicine. If she only has a rash, and no other symptoms (runny/stuffy nose, sniffles, teary eys), why medicate her entire system?? Try topical treatments first and see if they help.